The Celestial Accord

Chapter 5 The Truth Between Us

The campsite disappeared behind them as Damon guided the bike deeper into the forest. Evie held tightly to his waist, the cool night air rushing past them as the tension of the evening slowly began to fade.

Damon glanced back at her before turning his attention to the road.

“The cabin’s not far. Just...let yourself relax for once, yeah? I’m here.”

Evie wrapped around him and grips firmly as she warns,

“Don’t hurt my baby,” she teased.

Damon revved the engine gently, a low growl of power beneath them both.

“Don’t worry, your baby’s in good hands, sweetheart.”

He leaned into the curves of the forest road with practiced ease, the bike responding like an extension of himself.

The night air rushed past as Damon navigated the winding road through the dense forest. After about ten minutes, the trees opened to reveal a small, secluded cabin nestled against the tree line, hidden well enough that anyone not looking for it would pass right by.

Warm light spilled from the windows-Stefan must have called ahead to have it prepared. Damon thought to himself, slowing as he pulled up to the porch.

"Home sweet home. For the night anyway.”

He killed the engine and turned slightly, his hand covered hers where it was still connected to his abdomen, and he asked,

"Are you good?”

She shook her head, feeling the weight of the road ahead, and said,

"No, I’m not, but that’s normal”

She giggled softly, as she tried to defuse the situation with humor. She got off the bike, walked around to the saddlebags, to retrieve her clothes and bathroom stuff.

Damon watched her move; that dark satisfaction still lingered in his expression. He dismounted with fluid grace, his leather jacket caught the cabin’s warm light as he leaned against the porch railing, arms crossed.

"Not good, how? Klaus, good, or just... everything catching up to you?”

Evie just shrugged not fully ready to answer the question.

He moved toward her at the saddlebags, his presence close but not crowding as he grabbed her hand and said,

“Come on...the baths upstairs. Hot water actually works-Stefan made sure of that. There’s towels, soap, everything you need.

His voice dropped lower, more intimate,

“and after? You’re sleeping real sleep. Not the kind where you’re listening for danger in the dark, for I am here and I will protect you completely.”

There was a quiet authority in his manner now, tempered by concern for her well-being rather than his own needs. For once, he didn't need answers immediately. Whatever she was feeling, he could give her the time to find her way through it, and somehow, that felt strangely comforting

Evie moved up the stairs and headed toward the front door as she looked over her shoulder and asked,

"But what if I don’t want to sleep?”

She winked, turned her head toward the room, and walked through the threshold.

Damon’s eyes darkened immediately, his entire body shifting into something predatory and focused. His voice dropped into a dangerous whisper as he moved closer, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. Apparently forgetting everything he'd just said about her getting some sleep, a cocky grin spread across his face.

“And who said anything about sleep?”

Desire crept into Damon’s voice as he continued,

“You’re still covered in blood and ash, and all I can think about is getting you wet and warm and”...he paused, that smirk returning.

“Mine… Again, but fully mine…”

Evie smiled as she stepped toward the stairs that led up to the second floor, not paying any attention to the rest of the cabin as she stated.

“Yes, I do believe we do have unfinished business, don’t we? It was interrupted by truth telling, if I recall then unwanted visitors.”

She smiled as she turned her back to him and ascended the stairs one at a time, slowly but confidently sashaying her ass as she stepped. Damon’s hand slid down her arm, his touch electric against her skin.

His voice thick with want as he confirmed.

"Interrupted. Yeah.”

"Yes, Bryon was a distraction I didn’t appreciate. I could have done without my brother and Elena as well. So no more interruptions tonight, Evie. Just you. Me and whatever this is between us that keeps pulling me under willingly, more and more.”

He guided her toward the cabin’s bathroom as they reached the top of the stairs. From there, they could see the warm wood interior below, the stone hearth and open floor plan lit by the flickering fire. The heat between them had become impossible to ignore.

His fingers interlaced with hers as he led her into the bathroom, where a deep soaking tub was visible through the open door. He lit the candles and turned on the faucet, letting the tub fill with warm water. A towel warmer sat off to the right, and through the large picture windows, she could see the dark mountaintops illuminated by moonlight beneath a sky filled with brightly shining stars. The peaceful view seemed to envelop them both.

Leaving the tub to fill, he crossed the bathroom toward her and slowly unzipped her jacket, sliding it from her shoulders.

Evie moved to do the same,

"Very well then, maybe I do need to rinse off before climbing into the tub.”

She looked down at herself, a bit self-conscious, as she slowly started to pull off her clothes and she looked up at him through her eyelashes, winked and licked her lips.

Damon shook his head, as he said

"You’re killing me, sweetheart.”

“Look at you…”

His thumb traced her jawline as he breathed out,

“...You’re beautiful and the most powerful creature in this cabin.”

His lips descended toward hers as the water continued running behind them, steam curling through the bathroom air like a steam room.

As he pulled away, she studied him closely and asked.

"Is that all you see? The power I hold?”

She turned around, and started the shower to get the residue off her skin. Damon followed her into the steaming shower, the hot water cascaded over both of them.

Damon’s breath caught as she shed her clothes, piece by piece. His dark eyes tracked every movement-the curve of her shoulder, the strength in her frame, the confidence that radiated from her despite the self-consciousness.

Damon crossed the remaining distance between them, his expression shifting as he gently cupped her chin, drawing her eyes to his.

He watched the blood and ash wash away, revealing unmarked skin beneath. His voice was low, almost vulnerable, as he reached for the soap.

"I see someone who’s been running for 20 years and still has fight left in her.”

His hands moved across her shoulders with surprising gentleness despite the intensity in his eyes as he washed the grime away.

"I see a woman who could burn the world and chooses not to. That’s not weakness, Evie. That’s strength most people will never possess and it is that strength, not the power strength that I find amazing.”

The water streamed down his face as he stepped closer, his body nearly touching hers.

"I see someone I want to keep. Not use. Keep. Someone I want to learn everything about. And someone I want to love,"

He smiled as he looked deep into her eyes, hoping that she felt the same way.

She looked back with a grin and said

“You know, I know who you are. Your reputation precedes you. I’m friends with Lexi; I know that must come as a surprise to you, but what you just said, I don’t think I have heard you saying to anyone other than the one we don’t mention.”

Damon went very still under the hot spray. The mention of Lexi hit him differently than anything else tonight.

Voice tight, he said,

“Lexi?’”

He turned away slightly, as he ran a hand through his wet hair. The vulnerability he had just shown hardened back into something more guarded as he said.

"She was...different. She saw something in me I didn’t think existed.

His expression shifted as the rest of Evie's words sank in. He knew exactly who she meant by the one they didn't mention.

“And Katherine...” His jaw tightened.

“That was different. I loved her, or at least I thought I did. Then she died because of me. Because I wasn’t careful enough, wasn’t good enough.”

Water streamed between them both as he turned back, his dark eyes searching hers.

His jaw clenched.

"So yeah. Maybe I don’t say things like that to people. Because the last person I said them to got her head ripped off by Klaus.”

Evie took his head into her hands and said,

"No, it wasn’t your fault she... she had her own agenda as you most likely know, but still want to punish yourself, and now here I am in much the same place as she was. Are you sure it’s me you want and not redemption? No hiding...I can take the truth.”

Damon went still. The water pounded down between them and for a long moment, he didn’t speak.

His jaw worked-as the internal war played out across his face.

His voice broke through, barely audible.

"You want the truth?"

She nodded; he stepped closer, his wet hand gripped her chin, which forced her eyes up to his.

"I’m terrified. Of losing you. Of this being real and then having it ripped away like everything else I’ve ever wanted.

Voice cracked slightly-raw, unguarded.

"But yeah. It’s you, not Katherine…”

“You.”

“Not because you’re a conductor.”

“Not because of your power.”

“Not because of redemption.”

“It’s you-the way you laugh, the way you ride that bike like you own the damn world, the way you look at me like I’m not a monster.”

Water streamed down his face.

"I want you alive.”

“Safe. Mine, and I’ll burn this whole town down to make that happen.”

The electricity in the room doubled, and she smiled up at him in awe, feeling nothing but desire as she said,

"Oh, Damon… then you shall have me...let’s go to that bath; it’s warm and waiting.”

Damon shut off the shower, water still dripping from them. He reached for a towel, but didn’t bother drying off-just wrapped it loosely around his waist and took her hand, he guided her toward the steaming tub

“Come on. Careful. It’s hot.”

The bathroom was thick with steam, the water surface rippled slightly. Candlelight flickered across the tiles as Damon stepped into the tub first, sinking into the heat with a low groan, then extended his hand to help her in and settle between his legs.

Damon rubbed her back with gentleness and care as he said with a voice full of rough desire.

“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

He settled back against the porcelain, his dark eyes never left her skin as the water enveloped them both.

Evie rubbed the tops of his thighs and moaned softly.

"Hmm, now this is what I needed. My old bones don’t really like the forest floor as much as they used to; that’s for sure.”

She giggled and pulled his arms around her waist as she settled further back into his chest.

Damon held her close as the hot water worked its magic on their tired muscles, his voice warm and teasing against her ear.

“Old bones?”

“You’re more dangerous than half the vampires I know.”

He pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck, his lips lingered.

“Besides, your body’s doing just fine from where I’m sitting.”

His hand drifted across her ribs, tracing the strength there. The water lapped gently around them as he said,

“Stay like this.”

“Just for a while.”

“No running.”

“No Klaus.”

“No hunters.”

His chin rested against her shoulder as he said,

“Just us.”

Evie moaned again,

“Ummm. Hmmm, yeah…”

She rested her head back onto his chest.

“I feel like things are right now, because everything between us is settled. No more secrets, no more unspoken truths. Everything is finally out in the open.”